Public Speaking & Mentoring

Speaking to people and striking up meaningful conversations are key to reducing the stigma associated with mental illness & suicide. We have come a long way, but we can always do more. We are aiming to raise awareness, one conversation at a time.

Lauren is available for one off speaking engagements at conferences, professional development days, workplace meetings, community group events or other various events. Speaking presentations will have a focus on the importance of utilising the voices of people with a lived experience in the mental health & suicide prevention sectors, whilst also looking at the current landscape in Australia. We talk hope, building resilience, being compassionate and the importance of mental wellness. These presentations can be tailored to your groups needs.

PRICE: (quoted upon inquiry)

Speakers Bio

Lauren Breen is a local Perth girl, who has been working & volunteering in the mental health and suicide prevention sectors for over 8 years. After the death of her brother, Aidon to suicide in 2008, Lauren created The Aidon Project. It was a passion project that has developed and grown into the Lauren Breen Foundation (laurenbreen.com.au) a broad community based movement, aiming to raise the awareness and harness the voices of people with a lived expertise of suicide.

In the last 12 months, Lauren has co founded a new project called CNQR (www.icnqr.com), alongside fellow co founder; Margaret Hines and is now the Director of Communications at the Kevin & Margaret Hines Foundation based in Atlanta, USA.

Within the paid mental health sector, Lauren was privileged to be the Team Leader for the Personal Helpers and Mentors & Partners in Recovery programs in her local community. Author of the book, “TRUST – Surviving the Ripple Effect of Suicide”, Lauren uses her lived experience, coupled with her desire and determination to impact change, to get involved in many amazing projects and organisations including, Lifeline WA, Reach Out, Anglicare WA, LIVIN, A Stitch in Time and The Enemy Within and more recently as a National leader in the Suicide Prevention Australia Lived Experience Leadership group.

Taking her message worldwide, Lauren is working alongside fellow suicide prevention and brain health advocate, Kevin Hines over in the USA and has been involved with his documentary; “Suicide: The Ripple Effect”. Lauren is across all things suicide prevention and mental health and is continuing to spread the message of hope & resilience to all the people she meets. When not working, you will find Lauren on her couch, watching sports and tweeting about it.

Testimonials

“Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) is proud to partner with Ambassador Lauren Breen in working toward our shared goal of reducing suicides. We believe there is wisdom to be gained from the voices of lived experience and that these insights can enrich our understanding of suicide and its prevention. By publicly sharing personal stories and raising awareness of core prevention messages, Lauren is one of many helping us to build stronger, more resilient communities.”– Sue Murray, CEO SPA

“Lauren and her team presented at a seminar for educators in Champaign, Illinois and delivered a very strong message, very eloquently. They made a real connection with the audience and started a conversation which has been invaluable for our community.”– Donna Kauffman

“Lauren is a estimate to the strength and courage one has after the loss of a loved one to suicide. She uses her story to inspire hope”
– Amy Bledsoe, Frontier Health